Ryan Zinke

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, Father Sean Raftis is originally from Spokane, Washington, the son of James and Catherine Raftis. He has a brother, of course, Pat. He was a kid who grew up in a fine town in Spokane. He attended Gonzaga Prep and Gonzaga University in his hometown, and he studied and taught at the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University, also known as the Cougars. He earned his master's degree while teaching at the Murrow School. Father Raftis started studying for the Catholic priesthood in 1995, studying philosophy at Loyola University Chicago and theology at Boston School of Theology and Ministry. He was ordained in 2005 and is a priest of the Diocese of Helena, Montana, in western Montana and serving at the Cathedral of St. Helena, Holy Cross in Townsend, and I am proud to say that he is the pastor at my church in Whitefish, Montana. I am honored to introduce Father Raftis.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to commend to the House the memory of Dr. Joseph McDonald of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) in Pablo, Montana. Dr. McDonald died on December 14, 2023, at the age of 90. Dr. McDonald was an educator, innovator, historian, athlete, coach, tremendous leader, and dedicated family man. Dr. McDonald was born in St. Ignatius, on March 31, 1933. He graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1951. After high school, Joe worked as a U.S. Forest Service smokejumper in West Yellowstone. While working there he enrolled at Montana Western College and met the love of his life, Sharon Christopherson. They married at the end of their freshman year. Joe went on to teach and coach at various K-12 schools across Montana. During this time, he also attended the University of Montana, earning his master's degrees in education and health and his Doctorate in Education. While Joe and Sherri were raising their four children, Tim, Terry, Tracie, and Tom, he continued to serve his community in many capacities. Joe served as a high school principal and assistant superintendent at Ronan Public Schools. He was eventually elected to the CSKT Tribal Council and served two terms. His strong advocacy led to the establishment of Salish Kootenai College where he served as the President Emeritus for over 20 years. Joe received a host of awards over his career including honorary degrees from Gonzaga University and Montana State University, distinguished alumni awards from the University of Montana and the University of Montana Western, distinguished service awards from the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, and the National Indian Educator of the Year award. Joe was also enshrined in the Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame. After retiring from Salish Kootenai College, Joe spent much of his time supporting his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in their pursuits in life with his wife Sherri. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Sherri McDonald, and their son and daughter in-law Terry and Paula (Camel) McDonald. Joe is survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, we are very grateful that great men like Joe McDonald have dedicated their lives to the service of others. On behalf of the people of Montana's First Congressional District, I offer his family my deepest sympathies.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 863, the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas. Mr. Speaker, Montana is about the same size as from here to Chicago plus 2 miles. It is a long, long border. The few border people we have generally are deployed down south. My friend and the gentleman from New York said: What evidence do we offer? What evidence of negligence? What evidence of wrongdoing? I would say it is pretty easy to find. It is found in every street, every city, every county, every State across this Nation. The evidence is found in every fentanyl pill and death. The evidence is found in every woman that is raped along our border. The evidence is found in every child-trafficking case that is in every city, to include Billings, Missoula, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. It is found in every evidence of children being sex trafficked, and I could go on. The evidence of negligence is the willful blindness to the horror that we have on our southern border. Our northern border, while not discussed a lot, is wide open, because this country doesn't have a border. In Montana, this administration can't even prevent a balloon. So the evidence is clear, compelling, and not in dispute. The lack of action, willful blindness, and willingness to do nothing is deserving of no less than impeachment.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 788. First of all, we should ask what good governance looks like. I know that in the House of Representatives today, perhaps we are not reflective of good governance, but good governance, I would say, should include transparency. It should also include, I think, fairness, rule of law, and defending the Constitution, to which we all have sworn an oath. Article I, Section 9 in the Constitution says what? No money should be removed from the Treasury unless by consequence of appropriations by law. It is in the Constitution. Let me share a story about when I was Secretary. It is called sue, settle, and seal. I am sure that my good friend, the gentleman from New York, is aware of it. Let's say an administration writes a rule that is somewhat flawed. Let's say the administration invites a lawsuit from, let's say, the Center for Biological Diversity or other nonprofits. Let's say that department then decides to settle. On what conditions? Those conditions are met by the Department of Justice and not the Department of the Interior in this example. They are settled, and then the final act is that they seal them. In one case, I asked the President of the United States, which would be President Trump, I said: Mr. President, I have serious concerns about the conditions of this settlement. I would like you to ask the Attorney General to allow the Secretary of the Interior to view those. The President's answer was: I don't have the authority. Then, I asked Congress: Mr. Speaker, you have the power of the purse by the Constitution. I would like you, sir, to tell me the conditions of the settlement. Follow the money. Where did the money go? His answer was: I don't have the authority. When neither the President of the United States, the executive, nor the House of Representatives, which controls the purse, have the authority to look at sue, settle, and seal, something is wrong. That is what is called corruption. All of this should attain to the same thing--transparency. Furthermore, whose money is it? I have heard today it is the Federal Government's money. It is not. The government does not have the money. It is the taxpayers'. It is the citizens of this great Nation whose money we allocate and, by Constitution, we appropriate. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of this bill, and I thank the great gentleman from Texas for bringing it forward.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Madam Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 3721.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Madam Chairman, the gentlewoman from Maine may have mentioned that this affects all monuments. In fact, it does not. As a former Secretary, monuments are under the Antiquities Act, and there are about 163, as I recall. This only pertains to monuments that commemorate the Founding Fathers of the United States on land under the jurisdiction of the Department. I don't recall how many monuments are to the Founding Fathers, but there are not many. I don't recall any being a safety issue. As a matter of fact, I recall all of them being a part of our history and an important part of our history for all to learn. This does not affect all monuments or the safety. What it affects is the very essence of the country, and I support this amendment.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my congratulations to an iconic Montanan and the Voice of the Griz, Peter Christian and celebrate his 50 years in broadcasting. This Montana legend and esteemed member of the community has won 25 first-place `Craney' awards from the Montana Broadcasters Association for his news coverage on KGVO based out of Missoula, Montana. Beloved by thousands of fans across many generations, Peter has also been the Public Address Announcer for the Montana Grizzlies at Washington Grizzly Stadium since 1998. On behalf of the people of Montana's first Congressional District, it is my pleasure to honor and recognize Peter Christian for his meaningful contributions to our community through public broadcasting. Bravo Zulu, Peter.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Madam Chair, I rise today to ask my colleagues to support my amendment to ensure the Department of Defense has the flexibility and authority to supply adequate power to defend this country and win in battle. It is ironic that we are here today, and I can't believe we are talking about it, but we are. The latest rule by the Biden administration to force the DOD to only use electricity for power and heating without backup, without any regard to situation, terrain, technology, or supply chain, is absurd. Let's talk about energy security and what it looks like. The first 2 years of the Trump administration, we went from 8.7 million barrels a day to 12.5 million barrels a day. We went from being energy vulnerable and dependent upon our allies and potential adversaries to being energy independent and, in some places, dominant. By the way, we lowered emissions. Do you know why? Because America does energy better, cleaner, and more efficient than any other country on the face of this planet. Let's talk about the Biden administration and what this does. It puts our national security at risk. First, let's talk about supply chains. In the EV world, where are the minerals mined? Who controls the minerals, the processing, the manufacturing? Who controls the solar cells, the components that make up the EV world? China. It is ironic that the moment we become energy independent, we are now moving to more dependency on our allies and what could be our adversaries. Secondly, let's look at the cost. How much does it cost in the world we live in? We are looking at budgets and savings and the future. What this does is it raises the cost of construction, and there is no answer to the supply chain. Just on mining critical minerals alone, it would take a 2,000 percent increase for 20 years to meet the energy demands of batteries today. Yet, this administration puts this rule in, and by the way, good luck mining in the United States. The only thing this administration is approving is gravel pits. Let's talk about the environment and disposal. Where do 90 percent of the solar cells go today? To landfills across this great Nation. How about the turbine blades? How about the batteries? Where are the batteries going? How do we remove the toxins? Do you know what? There is no answer. There is no answer for the supply chain in the processing and manufacturing, and there is no answer for the disposal. Madam Chair, I agree with the gentlewoman from Florida that our oceans are precious, absolutely precious. Ninety percent of the plastics in the ocean come from four rivers in China. I can go over a list of the environmental atrocities in China. Madam Chair, I ask my colleagues to vote for America, vote for American energy, and stop this absurdity that is going to cost lives because we won't be able to power this country. Do you think we are having problems now? Ask the United States Navy, which had to pull the fleet out of San Diego. Do you know why? They don't have shore power because the grid is not set up for it. We are dangerously moving toward vulnerability. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ZINKE. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition, but I agree with my distinguished colleague from Florida that Congress has an obligation to review it. Congress should not abdicate our responsibility. We should ask the tough questions. Ultimately, we should provide the funding necessary and the resources to win. That is our job, and I agree with you 100 percent. But as a commander, they are doing more than just guarding an embassy. A force structure of 900 may seem like a large footprint, but those of us who remember Black Hawk Down would suggest otherwise. A force requires medevac. Those medevacs require people that service those aircraft. In case we get in trouble, we need a quick reaction force, a force large enough to defend our troops. I, like my colleagues, know that if you were to put any American servicemen in harm's way, you want to ensure we have the adequate force to make sure they are recovered safely. They also have to be fed and have communications. In order to have an effective force, you need a footprint that can do its mission. I also agree that we should have a plan. Before we unplug our obligations, we should know what unplugging it does and when, and also we should have a plan on what our obligations are. So much of this discussion is a discussion among similar views. We do have an obligation for freedom. We have a commitment to democracy that when we provide a force to defend that democracy, and it is American force and our allies, that we provide them with a force package that can win. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to oppose this well-intended resolution. I do ask that we work as a body to uphold our duty as Congress to make sure that the authorizations we give the executive are both appropriate, timely, and do so to win.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, the community of Columbia Falls, Montana suffered a great loss recently with the passing of William ``Billy'' Sapa. Billy was the kind of guy every small town needs. He was the owner and operator of the Blue Moon Nite Club--a local restaurant and watering hole previously owned by his parents. He was the dedicated head coach of the Columbia Falls High School Wildcats baseball team, operated his multi-generational family farm, host of the summer rodeo series, and I am proud to say he was my friend. While Billy is known for his sense of humor and loyalty to his people, he wasn't known as one to brag, which is why it came as a surprise to many in the Flathead Valley that Billy was signed by the New York Yankees after college. He was in his first year as a pitcher and the world was his oyster. He could have done anything, a hardworking kid from a small Montana timber and manufacturing town. It was a tragic twist of fate that brought Billy back to the valley to take care of his family and led him to a life of building our little community. Billy was a proud patriot, a loving father, and a staple in the Columbia Falls community. He loved the community of Columbia Falls and will be dearly missed. I thank Billy and the entire Sapa family for all they've done to make the Flathead Valley a great place to call home. Rest easy brother.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, Montana and Americans everywhere lost a great patriot, warrior, and servant with the passing of Mr. Charles A. ``Charlie'' Dowd, radioman, U.S. Navy. Born in Rochester, NY, and later calling Montana home, Charlie was the son of a World War I veteran and enlisted in the Navy while he was in high school. At age 17 he received his orders and was assigned to duty at Pearl Harbor. On the evening of December 6, 1941, Dowd reported for duty at 2330. He worked through the night before returning to his barracks at daybreak. Dowd awoke to America under attack. In just his T-shirt and boxer shorts he grabbed his rifle and brass and took position on the roof. He fired so many rounds at attacking Japanese combatants that his rifle barrel burned like his anger. As Dowd recalled some years later, ``I didn't have any fear at the time,'' he said. ``We were angry.'' It was that courage and anger and love of country that eventually led us to victory in the Pacific and Europe. There were 2,403 service members and civilians who died that day, and 14 of them were from Montana. As one of the few survivors on the attack at Pearl Harbor, he continued his military service on vessels in the Pacific Theater in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea until the end of the war and was discharged in 1945. For his military service, he was awarded multiple Bronze Stars and several other commendations. I had the honor of visiting Dowd over the years. Listening to his stories and the stories of the men he served with are humbling and moving. More than 70 years later at 99 years old, he could still tap to the messages he sent as a radioman in Morse code on the table we visited on in Anaconda. In Charlie's time after war, he continued his second life of service as a high school teacher for building trades where he filled young minds with memories they still talk about today. He leaned into his passion as a sportsman by spending time hunting, fishing, and writing a weekly column named `The Wild Side' which became a staple for the Western Montana community. Charlie's life with his wife Clara was the epitome of the American dream and our state was made a better place because they called it home. History will know Charlie Dowd as one of the last living survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor, a Montana legend, and true American hero.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today in strong opposition to H. Con. Res. 21 to pull forces out of Syria. Like many in this distinguished Chamber, I have served in the region. I spent 23 years as a Navy SEAL. I have hunted war criminals. I have dismantled terrorist cells, and I have fought for freedom on foreign shores. There are several self-evident truths in Syria. First, the U.S. troops are authorized by Congress. Second, I do believe that we should review those authorizations. They may need to be reviewed. We should have answers on objectives, on failures, on victories, on a plan for ultimate success. I agree. But there is no doubt that Syria also remains a center for radical Islamic forces and terrorism, like ISIS, like PKK. These are organizations that will never stop, ever. They are committed to destroying this Nation and our allies, and we should be aware of their objectives. Lastly, the hard truth is this: Either we fight them in Syria or we will fight them here. Either we fight and defeat them in Syria, or we will fight in the streets of our Nation. To understand the scope of the military presence, we are talking about 900 troops. That is 900 troops that have to have the capability for intelligence collection, self-defense, surveillance, targeting. In case our troops get in trouble, that force must be sufficient to get them out of trouble because every sailor, soldier, airman, and marine, deserves nothing less. Nine hundred military personnel is an objectively small contingent. When you look at it, that is about the size of a Walmart which employs, on average, 300 people. So I agree with many of the supporters of the resolution that Congress has the powers, and these powers should be reviewed. We should ask the hard questions: What is the path to victory? What are the resources that are being spent? Are they being spent in the right spot? Is there a clear path to victory, and what are the interests of the United States? But believe me, Mr. Speaker, I understand the burden of war. I have lost a lot of friends. I understand the consequences of war on foreign shores, both to the servicemen and our families, which is why I call on my colleagues today to ask the right questions, but to reject this well-intended, but really, really bad idea.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, I am thrilled to death that both sides recognize it is a problem, and it is. Let's call it like it is. First of all, I don't expect China to tell the truth. It says it was a civilian airship. We know that is a lie. Nor do I appreciate the Biden administration's explanations. Let's go through them really quickly. Number one was remote. Our concern not to shoot it down was because it was going someplace remote or we could have collateral damage on the ground. It went through the Aleutian chain, one of the most remote places on the planet. As a former SEAL, I can tell you there is not a lot out there. Then, it went over Montana. Petroleum County, for instance, has 434 people in it. That is less than the United States Congress. I can guarantee you, the chance of hitting collateral damage was probably more off the coast of Myrtle Beach than it was in Montana. They even suggest, well, we gained great intelligence as it meandered from Montana to the Carolinas because we were monitoring what the Chinese were spying on. That is like inviting a burglar to your house just to see what he takes. Look, it is a problem and has been a problem. Also, to blame the Trump administration--look, I was Secretary of State. Does anyone in this body or anyone in America remember a balloon the size of three buses at 65,000 feet going from Montana to North Carolina? I mean, come on. We all recognize it is a problem. Lastly, if this administration can't figure a balloon out, then how can we figure out Taiwan?

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in defense of our Nation's wildland firefighters. In my role as Secretary of the Interior, as Congressman, and as a Montanan, I have seen the devastation that mismanagement and overregulation has brought to our forests. Every year, we bear witness to our forests and homes burning in catastrophic wildfires, wildfires that will be made worse by frivolous and potentially deadly litigation that seeks to prevent firefighters from doing their job. Last year, I was at a fire camp in Elmo, Montana. While I watched scoopers from Bridger Aerospace do their work on the ridge, I also noticed the red stripe where retardant was dropped to protect homes, ranches, and lives. In many ways, wildland firefighting is a lot like serving on the battlefield. The men and women are dropped behind enemy lines, surrounded on all fronts, and the only resources they have next to them are those men and women who fight fires and the air support above. If they call in air support, it is because they need it. We would never think of denying our troops in battle the lifesaving air support they need, so why would anyone think that our firefighters doing their job deserve any less?

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. We all knew politics was ugly, but we need to investigate and uncover corruption no matter where it lies. It is time to bring light to the shadows of the deep state and do our duty. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this critical piece of oversight investigations.

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a select committee to investigate the weaponization of the Federal Government, something I have a lot of experience with firsthand. I proudly served as the 52nd Secretary of the Interior. Despite the deep state's repeated attempts to stop me, I stand before you as a duly elected Member of the United States Congress and tell you that a deep state exists and is perhaps the strongest covert weapon the left has against the American people. There is no doubt the Federal Government deep state coordinates with liberal activists and uses politicians and willing media to carry their water. The deep state runs secret messaging campaigns with one goal in mind: to increase its power to censor and persuade the American people. Dark money groups funded by liberal billionaires and foreign investors funnel money to shell organizations and repeatedly attempt to destroy the American West. In many cases, they want to wipe out the American cowboy completely, remove public access to our lands, and turn Montana into a national park. They want to control our land and our lifestyle. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record two parts of a five-part series of investigative articles by the Capital Research Center titled: ``Arabella's Long War: Web of `Pop-Up' Groups'' and ``Arabella's Long War: `Keep it in the Ground.' '' [From the Capital Research Center, Nov. 12, 2021] Arabella's Long War: Web of ``Pop-Up'' Groups--How Leftist ``Dark Money'' Activists Brought Down Trump's Secretary of the Interior and Paved the way for Biden's Radical Environmentalists (By Hayden Ludmig) A Web of ``Pop-Up'' Groups Enter Arabella Advisors, a consulting firm based in Washington, DC, that quietly runs arguably the most powerful activist and lobbying network in politics. Arabella manages four in-house nonprofits collectively called the ``sisters,'' each of which controls a small army of activists and a legion of ``pop-up'' groups. And each pop-up group is made to look like a slick, stand-alone website. These pop-ups target virtually every issue in politics--control of the courts, abortion access, gun control, and voter registration and mobilization, even the Trump-Russia collusion hoax--pushing left-wing policies in every corner. What makes Arabella so powerful is how these ``pop-ups'' deceive individuals into believing they represent genuine local grassroots interests, such as one pop-up in Alaska created to oppose creation of the Pebble Mine run from Arabella's plush offices in DC. Arabella's network is extraordinarily well-funded. In 2019 alone, the four ``sisters'' reported total revenues exceeding $730 million and poured out $648 million. Between the network's creation in 2006 and its Form 990 filing for 2019 (the latest available), Arabella's empire has received more than $3 billion and spent nearly $2.5 billion. Most of that funding was directed to the network's flagship 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the New Venture Fund, whose largest known donors include the Gates, Ford, Hewlett, Packard, and Buffett Foundations. Beginning in 2017, Arabella turned its guns on Trump's Department of the Interior using a pop-up pair: Western Values Project (WVP) and its ``sister,'' Western Values Project Action (WVPA). According to their websites, WVP and WVPA were created in 2013 in Helena, Montana, to expose corrupt corporate lobbyists preying on public lands in the West. In reality, WVP is run by the 501(c)(3) New Venture Fund while WVPA is run by the 501(c)(4) Sixteen Thirty Fund, Arabella's in-house lobbying shop. Whatever staff the groups actually have would have been paid by one of Arabella's nonprofits or possibly by Arabella Advisors itself; we'll likely never know. But in its 2018 Form 990, New Venture Fund revealed that it is the ``paymaster'' for Sixteen Thirty Fund (which reported zero employees on its own 2018 Form 990) and ``pays the salary and immediately invoices Sixteen Thirty Fund, which reimburses the full amount.'' It's common for groups to use both kinds of nonprofit to maximize their ability to lobby through the 501(c)(4) and raise non-lobbying funds through the 501(c)(3), since donors may deduct donations to the 501(c)(3) from their taxes. But Arabella takes that tactic to another level, using pop-up fronts for its nonprofits that can take advantage of the New Venture and Sixteen Thirty Fund's respective tax advantages without disclosing their relationship to one another. Donations to WVP and WVPA in fact benefitted the Arabella-run nonprofits behind the projects, as an archived version of WVP's website from October 2019 reveals. Until late 2019 the website for WVP and WVPA revealed a handful of staffers, including Chris Saeger, ex- communications director for the Montana Democratic Party and former Service Employees International Union (SEIU) staffer; Jayson O'Neill, a Democratic staffer for Montana's legislature and Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D); and Yetta Stein, a staffer for the left-wing political action committee End Citizens United and staffer for the 2018 reelection campaign Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT). The archived website also showed a small advisory board consisting of: Kjersten Forseth, a former chief of state for Colorado State Senate Democrats, former director of the left-wing strategy group ProgressNow Colorado, political director for the Colorado AFL-CIO, and chief political strategist for Rocky Mountain Voter Outreach, a Denver-based get-out-the- vote and ballot initiative firm. Kent Salazar, an environmental health manager for Albuquerque, New Mexico, former New Mexico State game commissioner for Gov. Bill Richardson (D), and a board member for the left-wing National Wildlife Federation. Pat Smith, a lawyer representing Indian tribes in Montana, member of the 2010 Montana Redistricting Commission, and appointee of Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. WVP's advisory board also included Caroline Ciccone, who in 2019 was executive director of the New Venture Fund pop-up and anti-Trump ``oversight'' group Restore Public Trust. Ciccone is a former communications director for the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Obama appointee to the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Democratic strategist. From 2014 to 2017 she led Americans United for Change (AUFC), a top left-wing strategy group whose national field director Scott Foval was recorded in late 2016 by undercover journalists from Project Veritas bragging that AUFC had paid mentally ill and homeless people to instigate violence at Trump campaign rallies. ``We know that Trump's people will [tend to] freak the f-- out,'' Foval said in the video. ``It is not hard to get some of these a------- to `pop off.' '' The scandal ultimately led back to Robert Creamer, co-founder of the powerful consulting firm Democracy Partners and a former general consultant to AUFC who directed parts of a vast network of advocacy groups all aligned in support of Hillary Clinton's presidential bid. This led to speculation that his firm helped Clinton's campaign violate collusion laws. Foval described Creamer's role in the scandal as the ``kingpin'' who is ``diabolical, and I love him for it.'' Within days of the video's release Creamer resigned, and Foval was fired. Also present was Kyle Herrig, a New Venture Fund board member who sat on the advisory boards of at least five New Venture Fund projects, including American Oversight, a judicial activist and litigation group; Allied Progress, which attacked Trump cabinet officials; and the Ciccone-run Restore Public Trust. In early 2020 it was announced that Western Values Project and these three Arabella ``pop-ups'' were being rolled into a new organization: Accountable.US, itself a former New Venture Fund project fully established as an independent nonprofit sometime later that year, headed by president Kyle Herrig and executive director Caroline Ciccone. (It appears that Western Values Project Action remains a project of Sixteen Thirty Fund, but that remains unclear as of writing.) This reveals that Western Values Project, far from being a grassroots group, is enmeshed in a deeply networked, highly coordinated cabal of professional activists--and it always was.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of the select committee on China. As a 23-year veteran of the United States Navy and a former Navy SEAL commander, I am acquainted with China and its looming threat. Without question, China's actions represent a threat not only to national security but also our environment. As Secretary of the Interior, I led a delegation of officials to the Pacific Islands and witnessed firsthand China's intentions. I can tell you, their intentions are clear: control and dominance in the South China Sea and the hemisphere. It should be noted that China has the largest standing Navy, greater than the United States. They have stolen U.S. technology and have increased their capacity for nuclear weapons. China continues to threaten democracies, such as Taiwan, the Philippines, and even our territories. On the environmental front, the People's Republic of China is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases; the largest source of marine debris; the worst perpetrator of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; and is the world's largest consumer of trafficked wildlife and timber products. In fact, 90 percent of the world's plastics found in oceans comes from four rivers in China. China's actions today represent a clear and present danger, and they use any means available to them--blackmail, data hacking, and espionage. It is time to act in a bipartisan way, and I strongly urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting this critical bill.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the WIIN Act, which includes one of my top priorities in Congress, the Blackfeet Water Compact. I cannot stress how important this compact is to the Blackfeet Nation, a nation of warriors; the State of Montana; and our great Nation, the United States. Not only has the compact receive the necessary and long signoff that involved Federal agencies, the House Natural Resources Committee, and House leadership, it is a net benefit to the American taxpayer. I want to commend the Blackfeet warriors for all their hard work, especially Chairman Harry Barnes for his guidance and leadership, and also Chairman Bishop for his leadership. I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to put politics aside and pass this bill.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of Pam Hillery of Havre, Montana. After a four-year battle with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), Pam passed away peacefully in the presence of her family late Wednesday night, September 15, 2016. This was a profound loss, not only for Havre, but for all of Montana. I was truly saddened to hear the news Thursday morning. I only had the privilege of meeting Pam and her husband Paul once, but they left a lasting impression on me and my staff. Last year, Paul and Pam made the long trek from Havre to Washington to advocate for legislation that would prioritize finding cures for chronic diseases like ALS. At the time, the House was still crafting and debating a solution. I remember kneeling down next to Pam and listening to her story. Despite being bound to a wheelchair, her passion and dedication were truly inspirational. She knew her fate, but was still striving for a better future with those afflicted with this terrible disease. In Pam's own words, ``I'm not hopeful, but I'm not hopeless.'' It was this fervent spirit that led me to cosponsor and help pass the 21st Century Cures legislation in the House of Representatives. While I only knew Pam for a short time, it became immediately and abundantly clear why her passing is such a loss to Havre, Montana, and our nation. Her honest passion had the ability to inspire people to action. The town of Havre knows this better than anyone else. Pam epitomized what it means to be an active participant within the local community. She served on the Havre City Council for nine years, even after being confined to a wheel chair and losing her ability to speak. She was politically active, fighting for the causes close to her heart. From Missoula to Helena, she was constantly in motion no matter what it took. Most importantly, she was a loving and dedicated mother and wife to her children and husband. Pam leaves behind her husband Paul and children Caroline and Dolan. To each of them, you have mine and Lola's sincerest condolences. Mr. Speaker, although Pam is no longer with us, I call upon this Congress to commemorate her lasting impact. Whether serving her community as part of the Havre City Council or navigating the halls of Congress for causes close to her heart, she made a positive impression at every single turn. She will be sorely missed by us all.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the need for us to work together to fight the epidemic of meth and other dangerous drugs. Meth affects all of our communities. In Montana, the criminal justice and foster care systems are being pushed to their absolute limits. In Missoula County this year, 72 cases of meth. At the same time in 2007, there were zero. And the meth seizures are up 38 percent. So what can we do? We need to stop the drug from making its way to communities, and we need to secure our southern border. The FBI, DEA, Border Patrol, and local law enforcement officials all say the same thing. Mexico is where the preponderance of the drugs are coming from. We know how to stop it and we can shut it down, and we can secure our southern border. We also need to empower our health providers to provide addicts and users a path for recovery. All too often, those who suffer drug addiction also battle with mental health issues, and, sadly, it drives many to take their own lives. I was at a powwow with the Assiniboine-Sioux, the great nation, and a gentleman told me a term for it, ``oh-nee-op-ee,'' which means complete loss of hope. I haven't lost hope. I believe this House and this Nation are up to the task.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Madam Speaker, when I was a Commander at SEAL Team Six, I can tell you I was never the best jumper, diver, explosives expert, but I always knew who was. I was able to surround myself with, I think, the greatest team that this country could muster. I feel privileged and honored also in Congress to be able to surround myself with what I think are the greatest team of patriots, both men and women who have served our country and have a great love for our Constitution. Tonight's discussion is about the Constitution. All of us took an oath to defend and support the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic; and this time in our government's history, I don't think there is more of an important message to do that today. Our Constitution is about individual rights granted to us not by the government but by God, secured by the people. What we find ourselves today is not a Republican or Democrat issue. This is an American issue, and it strikes at the very heart of our country. Across our great land, there is a sense that America has lost her place. There is a sense that tomorrow is not going to be a better day, that America's greatness has passed. I don't share that thought because I believe in the people of America. What I think has happened is this: We always thought that our President or elected officials would always have our best interests at heart. And America went busy doing the things that are required every day, moms were dropping the kids off to school, we were working, building small businesses, mom-and-pop stores were out there doing commerce, and we always thought, again, that our officials, our elected officials, would always do what is right. Well, there is a saying in the SEALs that you have to earn your Trident every day. In America, we have to earn our freedoms every day. And earning our freedoms is participating in our elections, and it is holding our elected officials accountable, making sure that this great democracy, which is the light of the world, maintains its place. John F. Kennedy, in his inaugural address, said that our great Nation would pay any price and bear any burden in the defense of freedom. That sounding call was a call to all men and women worldwide that the United States would be there in the defense of our freedoms. There was a bond, a democracy, and a government by the people and for the people that provided the most opportunity for all of us. At the heart of it is the defense of our individual freedoms--our freedom of speech, religion, and our freedom to bear arms. They are sacred. They are sacred to Americans and the envy of the world. So tonight, as we think about what is important in our country, I say this: It is time for America to stand. It is time for us to rally. Our country is worth fighting for. Our values are worth defending. Our Nation requires all of us to act. We all rise and fall on the same tide. We all share the same experience of being American. With that, I am honored to be with you tonight. Thank you, and God bless.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to Mr. Lowenthal's amendment to strike the language that would defund the administration's efforts to kill coal, oil, and gas development. My colleagues and I included this language for good reason. We are trying to protect our schools, our infrastructure, our communities, and the very livelihoods that depend on these revenues. I know that royalty and valuation mean very little outside these walls, but to my constituents across Montana, it means funding schools and empowering local communities. Mike Johnson, an operating engineer from Billings, I think sums it up best: I am a working man from Montana. I am not a doctor or a lawyer or anything, but I personally suffered from the Federal mismanagement of our public lands in western Montana. I am a displaced worker from a paper mill. I now work in eastern Montana, and people don't understand the impact these jobs have on our lives. I saw five about five of my friends commit suicide after the mill closed. My wife had cancer, and I lost my health care, and I lost darn good-paying jobs. The chairman of the great Crow Nation, Old Coyote, said: A war on coal is a war on the Crow people. Without Crow revenue, without revenue from coal, the Crow people faced a lifetime of despair and poverty. They have very few options but coal. Yet, this administration, at every turn, tries to prevent the Crow Nation from being sovereign and from having their choice to export and use their resource as they want. These words capture the real problem, and the cost is real people. I know that many don't understand where Montana is. Montana is the same size as from here to Chicago, plus 2 miles. I understand Montana. I understand that Montana is blessed with resources, and we want to use them in a responsible way. But I also have to protect our families, our ability to provide a living in Montana. For this reason, I ask my colleagues to vote against this amendment and stand with American workers, families, and the great Crow Nation.

Mr. ZINKE

Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.